The Spectator by Hamilton College Spectator

Inside look at Football

The Spectator sits down with head coach Dave Murray for an exclusive interview, see page 16.

Bulat wows Barn Turn to page 11 for The Spectator’s review of CAB’s latest acoustic coffeehouse.

Immigration now!

Jack Suria Linares ’15 reviews the Obama Administration’s new policy on page 7.

The Spectator

Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014

Volume LV Number 11

Hamilton under federal Title IX investigation by Brian Sobotko ’16 News Editor

Hamilton College is under federal investigation from the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights for Title IX sexual violence violations. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) opened the Hamilton case on November 14. A U.S. Department of Education spokesman confirmed to The Spectator that as of Nov. 26, Hamilton is now one of 95 open cases relating to Title IX sexual violence investigations at 90 postsecondary institutions. OCR opens investigations based on complaints alleging discrimination under five federal statutes. Typically, OCR must receive complaints within 180 days of the act the complainant believes was discriminatory. OCR will determine whether the complaint includes “enough information about the alleged discrimination to proceed to investigation.” “Opening a complaint for investigation in no way implies that OCR has made a determination with regard to the merits of the complaint,” according to information on the complaint processing procedures on the Department of Education website. School officials, citing the sensitivity of the information, declined to comment on any specifics regarding the case. “While the OCR inquiry provides us with an opportunity to review and reflect on our process, I am confident the College responds fairly, sensitively and promptly to students who come forward with complaints, and that we adhere carefully to statutory requirements,” Senior Associate Dean of Students and Title IX Coordinator Meredith Harper Bonham stated in an

email to The Spectator. She explained, “Our recent Sexual Misconduct Policy revisions demonstrate how seriously we are attending to the issue.” Last May, President Joan Hinde Stewart announced the formation of a Title IX Task Force to assess the College’s compliance with OCR guidelines. This Task Force, which announced its changes in September, recommended splitting the current Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy into two distinct policies and creating “a more robust investigative process” centered around an investigative team composed of an external investigator and a trained member of the Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Board (HSMB). The recommendations also included eliminating the formal hearing process, something school officials and students both identified as unnecessarily stressful and even traumatizing. OCR will act as a neutral fact-finder throughout the investigation of the College. Fact-finding techniques may include reviewing documents submitted by the complainant and the school, interviewing the complainant, College personnel or witnesses and/or site vis-

its. Following the investigation OCR will determine, using a preponderance of the evidence, or “more likely than not” standard if Hamilton failed to comply with Title IX regulations. “We are of course cooperating with the review, which entails providing the OCR with information about our procedures and our efforts to educate the College community about Title IX,” Harper Bonham said. “I feel we do very well in that area,” she added. “ M y u n d e rstanding is that it will take several months before we receive a response, which is understandable given that there are numerous investigations underway across the country,” Harper Bonham says. OCR opened the investigation just a few days before the start of the “It’s On Us” Week of Action, an event sponsored by the White House as part of its focus on eliminating sexual assault on college campuses nationwide. The week’s events, sponsored by SAVES (Sexual Assault and Violence Education and Support) and Student Assembly’s Sexual Assault Prevention Committee, included Peer Advocate training sessions, a roundtable discussion

on sexual assault prevention, a sexual assault Speak Out and the filming of an “It’s On Us” video campaign. Representatives from SAVES also created and distributed a survey to students asking questions about issues of sexual assault on campus. While the administration speaks confidently about educating students regarding Title IX, Harper Bonham acknowledges the College can make improvements. “There is more we can do to remind upper-class students. We will be looking at that population on how to create a culture on our campus that doesn’t allow those types of acts to occur,” she told The Spectator in September. Advocates from SAVES agree. They want to see a stronger statement from the administration acknowledging there is a problem on campus. “Amongst people I have spoken to, people who are also knowledgeable [of school policies] there is distrust towards the administration,” stated Chloe Shanklin ’15, chair of SAVES. Shanklin, along with other SAVES advocates are studying policies at other comparable institutions. They point to programs at Connecticut College called the Think S.A.F.E. Project (Think Sexual Assault Free Environment), an office with a director who is a trained advocate in sexual assault, domestic/ dating violence and stalking, as well as “Green Dot,” a bystander intervention program, as models Hamilton should adopt. While OCR investigates Hamilton’s compliance with federal guidelines, many on the Hill advocate a more holistic review, designed to build a safer and more compassionate environment amongst students with greater trust in the administration.

Campus community turns out for conversation on Ferguson grand jury verdict by Kirsty Warren ’18 News Writer

On Monday night, over 200 students and faculty shared their frustration, fear and outrage about the decision by the Ferguson, MO grand jury not to indict Darren Wilson, the police officer who fatally shot 18-year-old Michael Brown on August 9. The conversation hosted by the Days-Massolo Center (DMC) took place in the Fillius Events Barn, which was filled to capacity. Associate Director of the DMC Kimberly Williams began the dis-

cussion by saying that after the announcement of the jury’s findings on Nov. 24, she spent her Thanksgiving break thinking about mortality, safety and identity. Williams was frank about her absolute disappointment with the decision, and saying she held off on publicizing the Ferguson conversation at Hamilton hoping Darren Wilson would be charged. Director of Diversity and Inclusion Amit Taneja said that instead of laying ground rules for the discussion, participants should “honor each other ’s truth, and speak [their] truth.” For the next hour and

a half, microphones were handed around the Barn as students shared their reactions and thoughts on the decision not to indict Darren Wilson. “My reaction was one of confusion. On one hand I don’t want to see cities burn but on the other we’ve tried nonviolence for fifty years and we’re still being shot to death in the streets,” said Jake Blount ’17, who protested at the White House after the decision’s announcement. Many voiced their dismay that Monday’s conversation was so similar to conversations which took place after Trayvon Martin’s shooting in

2012. Victor Oyadiji ’16 was among the students who discussed the media’s portrayal of young black men. “The media brings up the fact that Trayvon Martin was suspended or that Mike Brown robbed a convenience store. News articles just keep bringing it up,” he said. “If you rob a convenience store you should go on trial, go to prison, whatever, but you shouldn’t be killed for that. No one deserves to die for being suspended in the eighth grade, these are not the medieval times.” see Turnout, page 4

NEWS December 4, 2014

Town-Gown gives $65,000 in grants to local organizations by Dan Snyder ’17 News Editor

This past week, the Hamilton College Town-Gown Fund distributed $65,000 in grants to eight organizations in Kirkland and Clinton. Hamilton College President and Town-Gown Committee Chair Joan Hinde Stewart stated, “The eight organizations invited to submit proposals presented us with more than $180,000 in need.” In its 14-year history, the TownGown Fund has distributed more than $570,000 in grants to organizations in the area. According to a press release on the college websit, the fund distributed the largest grant in its history—$25,000—to the Clinton Central School District to create a modern language learning lab. CCSD received $22,000 last year to implement common core standards in the district and has received over $150,000 in the history of the Town-Gown Fund. When the fund was established, it was specified that it would keep education a priority. The Clinton Central School Foundation received $6,500 to support district priorities, the Clinton Fire Department recieved $6,500 to refurbish its training facility, and the Clinton A Better Chance Program received $6,000 to offset transportation costs for prospective and current students. Additionally, the Town-Gown Fund gifted the Kirkland Town Library $5,700 to upgrade technology and purchase sensory play materials, the Kirkland Police Department with $5,500 to construct a handicap ramp, the Clinton Historical Society with $5,000 for exterior painting and the Central Oneida County Volunteer Ambulance Corps with $4,800 to upgrade its communications technology. The agreement that created the Fund in 2001 stipulated that grants could only be given to agencies and organizations in the Village of Clinton and Town of Kirkland. Stewart stated, “The committee is pleased to support the priorities of these important public safety and community organizations that serve our friends and

neighbors.” The Hamilton College Town-Gown Fund, established by a group of anonymous donors, has received more than $1 million and uses income earned from investing that money to make grants to local organizations. The fund was created to foster goodwill and communication among the college and residents of Kirkland and Clinton. Along with Stewart, local businesspeople serve on the Town-Gown Committee, including Fran Alteri of Alteri’s Restaurant, Corrine Gachowski of Krizia Martin, Oneida County legislator George

“The committee is pleased to support the priorities of these important public safety and community organizations.” —President Joan Hinde Stewart Joseph of North Star Orchards, Deli Rogers of Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service, Clinton Village Trustee Carrie Evans, Clinton Central Schools Superintendent Stephen Grimm, Hamilton Professor of French John O’Neal, Hamilton Point Investment Advisors President Andrew Burns and Hamilton College trustees Amy Owens Goodfriend and Jack Withiam. Goodfriend and Burns, natives of Clinton, are graduates of Hamilton along with Gachowski and Withiam. Hamilton Vice President for Communications and Development Dick Tantillo and Assistant Vice President for Communications Mike Debraggio are ex officio members of the committee. Contact Tantillo or Debraggio to make donations to the fund.

NESCAC

NEWS by Kirsty Warren ’18 News Writer

Middlebury Names 17th President The Middlebury College Board of Trustees named Dr. Laurie L. Patton the college’s 17th president on Nov. 18, according to The Middlebury Campus. Patton will be the college’s first female president in its 214-year history. Faculty, alumni, Trustees and students filled Middlebury’s Mead Chapel for the Nov. 18 ceremony. “We talked to leaders in higher education across the country who were the rising stars,” Chair of the Board of Trustees Marna Whittington said of the selection process. “And we went out and recruited some of them to our pool, so we had a terrific pool.” The selection committee narrowed the 260 initial candidates down to 100, then 50, then 12 then 5 final candidates who underwent multiple rounds of interviews and background checks. Patton, who is currently dean of the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences at Duke University and a professor of religion, was chosen because of her commitment to liberal arts education in the 21st century and “scholarly values, leadership capabilities, management expertise, commitment to diversity and finally cultural fluency for a really global perspective.” In a press conference with The Campus, Patton addressed topics like being the college’s first female president, increasing diversity and financial aid. “I can’t wait to get here,” Patton said. “I can’t wait to listen and to learn more, to dive into our deepest challenges and have our best arguments.” NESCAC schools join Ferguson protests

Several NESCAC schools protest the Ferguson grand jury’s decision Several NESCAC schools have protested the Ferguson grand jury’s decision not to indict Darren Wilson since the verdict was announced on Nov. 24. On Nov. 25, students at Wesleyan University stood holding posters with slogans like “Land of the Free for Who?”, “Lynch No More” and “Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere.” At 11 a.m., many students participated in a moment of silence, according to The Wesleyan Argus. On Monday, Dec. 1, approximately 30 Tufts students chanted “Black lives matter” in dining halls at lunch and dinner according to the Tufts Daily. On Monday night, about 70 Bowdoin students gathered for five minutes of silence followed by time to share thoughts and a silent candlelit walk around campus in honor of Michael Brown.

Bowdoin receives record-high ED applications The Bowdoin College recieved a record-high 662 Early Decision I applications for the Class of 2019. According to The Bowdoin Orient, this marks a 10.7 percent increase from last year’s 598 applications. “Bowdoin is popular,” said Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Scott Meiklejohn. “Every time I have been asked in all my years why applications are up, I always say the same thing which is, ‘Bowdoin is a great place and more people are finding out about it.’” This year’s ED I applicant pool represents a greater number of high schools than last year’s, with 482 schools represented compared to 467 last year. Admissions does not have a fixed number of students it hopes to admit early, but the total targeted class size is 495-500 students. “We’re excited. The number is just a number until you actually open the applications; that’s when it gets more interesting to see who would love to come to Bowdoin,” Meiklejohn said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HAMILTON.EDU

The Clinton Central School District received the largest grant in the history of the Town-Gown Fund.

NEWS December 4, 2014

2015 Student Assembly Election Platform Andrew Fischer ’17 & Silvia Radulescu ’17 For President: Andrew is a Sophomore Class Representative. A Government major, he is also an EMT, Jitney driver, and member of Mock Trial and TKE. For VP: Silvia is a Sophomore Class Representative. An Economics major, she is on Mock Trial, a sister of PBX, an OL, and Tour Guide. We want to make Student Assembly more transparent, efficient, and responsive. With a few changes, SA has potential to be much more effective. TRANSPARENCY: We will update and use our website and social media accounts, keep more detailed meeting minutes, and create a simple “funding guide” for organizations. Each meeting will also include a “Public Comment Period” for students, faculty, and administrators. EFFICIENCY: We will streamline meetings and ensure that SA responds to campus controversies in a timely manner. RESPONSIVENESS: We will debate controversial issues, not hesitate to engage the administration, and ensure that student input receives a prompt response. These changes are realistic, achievable, and will go a long way to improving student governance at Hamilton. It has been a privilege representing you on Student Assembly for the past year-and-a-half, and we would be honored to have your vote on December 10.

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Campus Safety Incident Report In an effort to increase Campus Safety’s transparency and draw attention to students’ dangerous and destructive behaviors, The Spectator will publish a selection of the previous weekend’s incidents each Thursday. The entire report is available in the online edition of The Spectator. Both Campus Safety and The Spectator will use their discretion regarding what is published.

Friday, November 14, 2014

3:04 a.m. Noise Complaint – Minor Hall 3:10 a.m. Larceny – College Hill Road 11:18 a.m. Animal Complaint – 100 College Hill Road 12:50 p.m. Area Check – 11 College Hill Road 4:40 p.m. Animal Complaint – Root Parking Lot 6:47 p.m. Alarm Activation – Kennedy TSA

12:35 a.m. Area Check – Root Glen

11:26 p.m. Noise Complaints – Milbank/Babbitt Halls

1:18 a.m. Medical Emergency – Sadove Center

11:51 p.m. Assist KPD – Kinney Drugs (Clinton)

6:17 a.m. Alarm Activation – Bookstore

Sunday, November 16, 2014

7:34 a.m. Disorderly Conduct – Bundy West

12:29 a.m. Noise Complaint – Babbitt Hall

3:40 p.m. Concern for Welfare – Residence Hall

12:58 a.m. Unattended Party – Bristol Hub

7:30 p.m. Fire Alarm Activation – Kennedy TSA

2:01 a.m. Area Check – Martin’s Way

8:15 p.m. Motor Vehicle Accident – Green Apple Way

2:07 a.m. Disorderly Conduct – Martin’s Way

11:44 p.m. Smoke Detector Activation – Eells House

2:20 a.m. Check the Welfare – Eells House

Saturday, November 15, 2014

2:53 a.m. Noise Complaint – Bristol Guest Rooms

12:48 a.m. Medical Emergency – Tolles Pavilion

3:01 a.m. Medical Emergency – Dunham Residence Hall

1:14 a.m. Noise Complaint – Minor Residence Hall

4:00 a.m. Criminal Mischief – Beineke Village

1:56 a.m. Fire Alarm – Chapel

5:03 p.m. Alarm Activation – Wellin Museum

NEWS December 4, 2014

Turnout to conversation on Ferguson shows promise for future involvement in similar events from Ferguson, page 1 “How do you, at 28-years-old, come to believe that an 18-year-old black male is like Hulk Hogan?” said Professor of Classics and Africana Studies Shelley Haley, referencing Darren Wilson’s testimony in which he said Michael Brown was ‘like a demon’ and ‘when I grabbed him, the only way I can describe it is I felt like a five-year-old holding Hulk

Hogan.’ “What is it in our society that makes an 18-year-old black man a monster? What’s wrong with us?” Professor Haley asked. “I’m tired of talking and I’m tired of crying.” Another Hamilton student said he was “furious and broken-up” by the grand jury’s decision, but acknowledged that, as a white man, it was his privilege to be angry and not afraid.

PHOTO BY BETH COMATOS ’14

Kimberly Williams opens the conversation in the packed barn with her thoughts and feelings on the Ferguson verdict.

“A lot of us learned new things about one another, and I think members of the Hamilton community got the chance to see that these issues really impact our peers on a personal level,” Blount said. Several people voiced frustration at the fact that the same students’ faces are seen at events like the Ferguson discussion and that it is difficult to reach other Hamilton students. “What do we do for the people who do not come to these meetings?” many asked. At the end of the night, the conversation turned to future action for positive change. While students discussed activism, Taneja and Williams also emphasized the importance of self-care as finals approach. Responding to the perception that the same faces are seen at event’s like Monday’s conversation, a suggestion was made that one meaningful way to affect change on Hamilton’s campus would be for those in attendance to bring friends to such events in the future. “I’m immensely gratified to see the administration taking steps to provide support to students of color on campus by endorsing events like tonight’s; though the Days-Massolo Center has been providing programming like this, public support from

other administrative branches increases attendance and raises the profile of the discussion as a whole,” Blount said. Williams said she was encouraged by the number of students in attendance at the conversation. “I was really excited and really

“I think members of the Hamilton community got the chance to see that these issues really impact our peers on a personal level.” —Jake Blount ’17 proud of the Hamilton community for coming out. Our original Ferguson event had around 80 people and for this past event we had around 205,” Williams said. “I think that really speaks volumes in terms of how many people are starting to become interested and invested and ignited. It’s telling that there’s starting to be a trend here, a really positive, constructive trend.”

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EDITORIAL

December 4, 2014

College must inform students The Spectator is reporting that Hamilton College is under federal investigation by the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR). Hamilton is one of 90 post-secondary institutions being investigated by the office. As indicated in the article, the OCR launches investigations “based on complaints of alleged discrimination.” The investigation itself in no way implies that Hamilton has engaged in discriminatory practices — the inquiry is merely investigating to see if the alleged discrimination did in fact happen. While the OCR has long investigated schools that receive federal funding for possible Title IX violations, announcing the schools subject to investigation is a new practice as of this year. In May, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine Lhamon said, “We are making this list available in an effort to bring about more transparency to our enforcement work and to foster better public awareness of civil rights.” The release of the names is also an attempt on behalf of the federal government to bring more attention to the issue of sexual assault on college campuses. The Spectator acknowledges that Hamilton College has taken significant steps to reform the process by which the College deals with sexual assault allegations. We encourage the College to continue to do everything in its power to improve sexual assault policies. Yet, one area that must be improved is transparency: the College should have notified the student body about the OCR investigation. We encourage Hamilton to be as open as possible when dealing with this sensitive issue with its students. While we understand the sensitive nature of this issue, the degree to which Hamilton College is handling sexual misconduct according to federal standards is an important matter of student safety and interest. A greater understanding of the process and its goings on can only further trust in the process. It is important that students at Hamilton know that efforts are made to ensure that the College fully complies with the latest federal regulations outlined in Title IX. This knowledge and security will hopefully also make people fearful of being the victim of a sexual assault breathe easier and deter students from committing sexual assault. Furthermore, it is a reminder that there is always recourse if one feels that the school did not adequately address an allegation of sexual assault. We encourage members of the Hamilton community aware of sexual misconduct to fully comply with College and federal regulations and to disclose information without violating the privacy of those involved.

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OPINION

December 4, 2014

A modest proposal for Hamilton’s diversity issues by Jack L. Suria Linares ’15 Opinion Contributor

The recent protests across the nation exemplify frustration over a system that repeatedly fails to defend people of color. People of color may have gained civil rights on paper, but Ferguson demonstrated that those words are not enfoced. Make no joke about it: the political system is set up to fail blacks and working class communities. Ferguson demonstrates the history of state violence against racial minorities, and even though we must address the looting, Ferguson deals with much more than that: it deals with the essence of what it means to be an American. It means tracing the events of Ferguson to the histories of murder, colonialism, segregation, lynching, genocide and police brutality. Violence by protestors, if not justified, remains understandable, because violence, both state and social, is as American as apple pie. How did the government respond to the protests? Why send the National Guard, when they could have sent teachers, psychiatrists or artists to help Ferguson? Instead, the National Guard only protected wealthier communities while ignoring poor and black businesses which received the backlash of the protests. What are the implications of Ferguson, and why do we still have to talk about race after so many years? Because it is our

history, and neglecting it would only create foolish pride. We can only be proud of this country if we recognize its historical scars and work to heal them. We cannot condemn violence in the streets without simultaneously condemning state violence and the racist institutions set up to fail minorities. To end state and social violence, we need to gain compassion and awareness for and of our fellow Americans. Despite the mantra that America is the land of the free, our country was founded on racial hierarchy and racist institutions, and we are cowards if we do not confront this reality. Whether we support or oppose the rising movement, we need to reevaluate the impact of race in American society. We must learn of the longtime neglected socio-economic problems affecting primarily communities of color. America needs to admit its harsh historical realities if it will begin a healing process that eradicates racism and transitions to transculturalism, without erasing blackness or any other contributions from peoples of color. Hamilton can get involved in this process, by asking its community to look deep into its own biases and prejudices in order to deal with the racist and discriminative cultures that surround the institution. I suggest two projects. First, Hamilton needs to push to create a Comparative

Ethnic Studies department (CES). Hamilton needs to understand the different, and often difficult, aspects of American society, in order to produce citizens that contribute to progress. CES is an interdisciplinary project that aims at examining race and racism as a profoundly powerful social and cultural force within American society. It focuses on specific experiences of people of color and on comparative ethno-racial dynamics (i.e. how different races interact). Finally, it looks at the structural and cultural creations of race and racism in America and the world. It does all this through critical intersectional analyses. What’s the difference between CES and other disciplines? Why not just include conversations of race in the other departments? However, CES features a deep and thorough analysis of the impacts that race and racism have created throughout time. While each discipline can engage in these discussions, CES combines and applies methods from multiple departments, emphasizing an interdisciplinary curriculum. CES aims to unify the methods of understanding society, but also understand when some methods work better than others. Historiographical or sociological methods will not always obtain the same conclusions as economics, and CES can help the traditional disciplines gain a new lens in analyzing ethnicity. But how

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You can now chat online with a librarian 24/7: and there’s nothing creepier than asking someone how big their “collection” is at 2 a.m.

The sun hasn’t come out all week: but luckily we’re building an outdoor classroom.

Yodapez Taco Bell Show: Free prizes, free laughter and free e-Coli!

Sophomore Formal with free Chipotle: just like guacamole, a better venue will cost you extra.

Drawing Marathon: participants will receive no pity from people who run in actual marathons.

Fitness club cancelled: so you might want to get used to that turkey belly.

Smile Grams: These are pretty much DIY emoticons, except please don’t make the poop one.

RA Feedback Survey: Coincidentally the week before you can get points for stresscrying too loudly in your shower. More than hair club holding elections: the mid-perm elections are very heated, we’re hoping no candidates follicle out.

Who Cares?

by Shea Crockett ’15 and Wynn Van Dusen ’15 Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are purely of a satirical nature, and are not representative of the views of The Spectator editorial board.

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The recent events in Ferguson shed light on campus diversity issues. will Hamilton implement such a drastic and grand project? Does it have the capacity? I don’t know the answers to these questions, nor do I need to answer them; but beyond continuing conversations about race and racism, the College should realize that these conversations mean life or death for many Americans. One short-term solution for Hamilton would be to require a course pertaining to diversity in order to graduate, similar to existing Writing Intensive and QSR requirements. The conversation is not new, but it needs to be enforced. Some may say that we do not have the capacity to do this, but the capacity can exist when we make the commitment to have these difficult conversations. It should teach all sides of the story to allow students to reach their own conclusions. This seems the only alternative, because avoiding the discussion of racism in America will never solve its problems. A second short-term solution would be to require community service for all Hamiltonians in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods. People will only begin to understand one another when they see themselves through someone else’s experience. It means not seeing America through “colorblind” eyes. However, instilling a genuine understanding of each other may remain the most difficult task of all. Yet we must move in that direction. Returning to the national question of racism within transcultural America, I suggest that the United States, and Hamilton, must realize that Western civilization should not conceive itself as a society inherently worthy of praise. This is not meant to demean America nor Hamilton; on the contrary, it means renarrating American history to re-envision the type of society and campus we would like to live in. Perhaps the US could finally provide reparations, in the form of wealth redistribution and a serious commitment to end the systemic inequities

by supporting the educational, political, economic and social means of the working class and of communities of color. This is neither absurd nor impossible. As the country with the greatest economic wealth and greatest economic inequality, we need it. Hamilton remains a traditional school too complacent and comfortable with the conditions outside of its bubble. Only 20 minutes away there is a huge refugee population and a community in Utica in need of communal and national support. It is time that Hamiltonians begin to view all people as equal and embrace (or at least tolerate) the cultural and racial experiences of one another. Only through this genuine compassion can we move toward the just and equitable society we want, because neither the government nor Wall Street will provide such society for us. Why should it be our responsibility? Why should we care? What do we owe to America? Only you can answer those questions. We can commit to ending racism so that future generations of students see that Hamiltonians tried to work towards solutions even through harsh times. How will Hamilton look in 2068? As previously mentioned, we will live in a more culturally diverse America than ever before. This should not change how we envision the country as the land of the free and home of the brave. Similarly, while gender and sexuality depend on varying degrees of structures such as class and race, inequities within these spheres will continue to deepen if nothing changes. I ask that you remain assiduous as the country aims to heal wounds created by its own violent history. If America does not embrace the various cultures, acknowledge its hierarchical structures or solve such inequities, then America will cause its own downfall and demise. Then you cannot condemn violence from the unheard and the ignored. Then there will be no America. I ask you: What do you want out of this country? What do you want out of yourself?

OPINION

December 4, 2014

Immigration and Neoliberalism in the age of Obama by Jack L. Suria Linares ’15 Opinion Contributor

President Obama’s recent executive order will provide aid to many young and undocumented residents, and I personally approve this push toward change. Every President has passed an executive order dealing with immigration issues, and Reagan even gave amnesty to undocumented residents. To those on the moderate political spectrum, the recent order meant a slight increase of socioeconomic opportunity and a significant new cohort of Democratic voters. To conservatives, Obama’s action meant a reanalysis of how to gain supporters adversely affected by immigration policies, but more dramatically, a demand to fixate on its supposed authoritarian project. The order poses itself as a progressive project of equality and opportunity to expand the “American dream.” But in reality, it has taken one step forward and five steps back. While providing aid and work permits, this executive order serves both the Democrats’ and the Republicans’political agendas to increase funding for a militarized border and create harsher penalties for residents who defy the current immigration laws. As a result, more families will separate. Even though it has good intentions, progressives and Democrats should not applaud such an executive order. We can do better; we must do better. This executive order comes at a rather inconvenient time, as the events in Ferguson demanded a reanalysis of race and racism in America. Progressives around the nation made gains with policies such as increased minimum wages and workers’ rights bills, but 2016 approaches with another Presidential race. Thus, the executive order pressures conservatives, liberals and progressives to begin shifting their conversations toward what the future of the order will be. If a Conservative or a centrist Democrat gets elected, we might see the executive order revoked, perhaps only retaining the neoliberal and conservative aspects of the order. Many believe that this executive order will only increase migration by those who seek to abuse the system, but such claims have no concrete evidence. In reality, most immigrants seek refuge in America only due

to their countries’ internal violence, corrupt governments influenced and supported by America and the negative economic impacts of the free market through neoliberal policies such as NAFTA. These immigrants leave in search of better opportunities to feed their children and family and consciously risk their lives crossing the border. It is no coincidence that the rise of a militarized border occurred as death rates increased, or that the rise of free trade occurred alongside migration, mainly children from countries like El Salvador, they are interwoven topics. This executive order will begin a crossparty conversation about how to obtain that “Latino vote.” While most undocumented residents come from Latin America, not all illegal aliens do. Simply because the executive order impacts Latinos most does not mean they will automatically give their vote to the Democrats. If the Democratic Party truly wants to earn the progressive Latino vote, they will need to move to the left, or at least push for policies that impact working class communities and the immigrant community in general. Historically, this country has never supported immigrant rights. Even though immigrants created the country, it has been antiimmigrant and conservative in cultural and political spheres. As my great-grandfather said, “America is a golden prison: it keeps you surrounded by wealth and yet prevents most people from obtaining true freedom.” Politicians and social movements need to increase opportunity across socioeconomic lines. Democrats in particular will need to capture the “Latino vote” if they want to maintain the presidency in 2016. Even if I admit that America has never appreciated immigrants, I still believe it can create opportunity for everyone to obtain their own American dream. Only when politicians and social movements have worked collaboratively have there been systematic and structural changes benefiting immigrants. A movement is nothing without help from the established political system, and politicians cannot achieve much unless social movements demand change and provide support. This applies to liberals and conservatives, but especially to progressives. We need to stop fearing a loss of the little gains we have earned over the last century to pursue the more

MENOFMIND.COM

The Hamilton community should pay more attention to immigration issues and their impact on American politics. just and democratic world our previous immigrants fought for. If we dare to imagine the impossible, and commit to a more equitable society, then even if we lose, we would have created a positive cultural and social shift in America. That is progress. While I think President Obama has created an opportunity for undocumented immigrants, I do not consider it progress. Malcolm X certainly would not have called it progress; he responded to a newsman, “I will never say progress is being made in America. You stick a knife in my back 9 inches and pull it out 6 inches, there’s no progress. If you pull it all the way out that’s not progress. The progress is healing the wound the knife made. They (Euro-Americans and the Government)haven’t even begun to pull the knife out, much less heal the wound. They won’t even admit the knife is there.” Malcolm X’s metaphor reflects the realities of racism that affect the African American community (exemplified most recently by Ferguson) but similarly reflects the abuses of political parties that chase after the “Latino vote” without really earning it. How hypocritical for any political party to dare ask for the “Latino vote” when they purposely create a system that makes it more difficult for many Hispanics to gain citizenship, and advance neoliberal policies in other countries that will force people to migrate to the United States? For progress to happen, we have to con-

front these dangerously complementary policies and begin to criticize Democrats for being moderates, who have much in common with progressive Republicans. If the Democratic Party will not fully support immigrants’rights, then it does not truly represent the voices that seek democracy, and a more just and equitable society. I believe this executive order served only as a political ploy to gain the “Latino vote” by 2016. We will need to wait until the primaries to truly see how they will represent the Latino populations. Who will do just that? Hillary Clinton had better move to the left if she expects to gain the progressive Latino and working class votes. If not, Bernie Sanders, the only open socialist in the Senate, might gain popularity from the younger voters within the Democratic Party. What matters is how the new wave of young voters will ultimately see the Democratic candidate, for they see systems in more intersectional forms, and critique capitalism and the government for not providing opportunity like those given to previous generations. How will they vote? The Democratic Party needs to move to the left or it risks losing those votes. I say it is time to legalize all people in the United States and end the free market policies that force migration. If progressives do not push the Democratic Party toward the Left, then America might remain imprisoned by a two-party system set up to serve only Wall Street.

Letter to the Editor

Hamilton should preserve historic 1793 house The Clinton Courier of November 19, 2014 published a very interesting story about the “1793 house” at 60 College Hill, owned by the College, and currently the site of an archeological dig conducted by the students of our colleague Nathan Goodale. Towards the end of the story the reporter notes that the house’s fate is uncertain because the “option of demolition” is “being seriously considered.” And it suggests that “this building, while old and historically interesting” may not be worth the price of its maintenance. The members of the Hamilton history department, whose names appear below, are concerned that the College would consider demolishing an “historically interesting” and remarkably intact 18th century building. The 1793 house – the only building that old still standing on its original foundations on the Hill, and one of the few surviving structures anywhere in the region that predate the chartering of the College, has many connections to Hamilton history. As home to the Reverend Robert Porter, principal of the Hamilton-Oneida Academy in 1805, it is likely that his fellow-clergyman and Academy founder Samuel Kirkland himself would have been a guest in the house. As an institution whose history is intimately bound to that of the region, to the Oneida Nation to whom the Reverend Kirkland served as missionary, and to the white settlers who began to arrive only a few short years before the construction of the 1793 house, we have a responsibility to preserve for future generations as much as possible of the physical legacy bequeathed us by our predecessors on the Hill. As Professor Frank Matero, chair of the Graduate Program in Historic Preservation at the University of Pennsylvania writes in an article on “Ethics and Policy in Conservation,” there is a “moral imperative” in how we treat our “collective human inheritance,” including physical structures like the 1793 house. Among other principles we should practice in this regard, he includes these:

• The obligation to respect cumulative age-value; that is, to acknowledge the site or work as a cumulative physical record of human activity embodying cultural beliefs, values, materials and techniques, and displaying the passage of time; • The obligation to do no harm, performing minimal intervention that will reestablish structural and aesthetic legibility and meaning with the least physical interference—or that will allow other options and further treatment in the future. • http://www.getty.edu/conservation/publications_resources/newsletters/15_1/ feature1_2.html The question of whether preserving any particular structure on campus is of economic benefit to the College is one that, of course, legitimately concerns you in your capacity as vice president for administration and finance. But in this case, we believe as historians that the “moral imperative” to protect our collective human inheritance must take priority. Maintaining the property will have associated costs, of course, but so will demolishing it. And the cost of demolition includes a moral as well as a financial dimension. If in 2014 the preservation of the 1793 house fails to make economic sense, it does not mean that sometime down the road our successors will not come up with an alternative use for the house that makes perfect sense, economically and otherwise. As Professor Matero suggests we should “do no harm” to this structure, and preserve it in a way “that will allow other options and further treatment in the future.” We surely do not wish to be remembered by succeeding generations as vandals without vision. Thank you for your consideration. —Doug Ambrose, John Eldevik, Kevin Grant, Shoshana Keller, Al Kelly, Maurice Isserman, Celeste Day Moore, Robert Paquette, Lisa Trivedi, Tom Wilson

FEATURES

December 4, 2014

From Where I Sit:

Hamilton’s International Perspectives by Monika Rybak ’18 Features Contributor

Before coming to Hamilton I attended a public middle school and high school in Poland, where I moved to from the US when I was nine. Since coming here it was interesting for me to hear what people knew about Poland. After hearing many people’s reactions to the fact that I’m from Poland, I can now narrow down what people know about Poland to three things: pierogi, vodka and Warsaw. But there is so much more to Poland. The great food, the incredible variety of small restaurants and cafés, the historical old parts of Polish cities that take you hundreds of years back. These are just some of the images that form the picture of Poland that I know. Something many people don’t know, and probably would not expect of Poland, are the many music

festivals like the Coke Live Festival, the Heineken Open’er Festival and the Orange Warsaw Festival all of which are during the summer. Poland’s music scene is pretty unexciting until the festivals start happening. The summer festivals attract people from all over Poland and other European countries like the Czech Republic, Germany and the UK. The Heineken Open’er Festival in the city of Gdynia on the north coast of Poland is one of the most popular ones because it is in an attractive location and it gets many of the major names in music. Being able to go to the beach during the day and then go to the concerts during the night gives it a truly summery and vacation-like atmosphere. The concerts are spread out over four days and four music stages are set up outside in the area of an old airport. Rock, pop, alternative, indie rock, dance and electronic

music all mix and everyone can find something that appeals to them. Some of the major artists who made an appearance at this year’s festival were Pearl Jam, the Black Keys, Jack White, MGMT and Foster the People. The festival also gives Polish artists a chance to promote themselves. Probably most of you have never heard of Misia FF, Dawid Podsiadto or Kamp! an indie rock group, a pop singer and an EDM (electronic dance music) band. The EDM scene has especially become big in Poland. The best part is that you can explore, and maybe find new music that you like, by switching between stages and artists. After listening to a rap concert on the beats stage you can quickly change the setting and atmosphere by going to a rock concert on the main stage and all you have to do is to walk to a different part of the airport field. Although, trying to make it to every concert is impossible. Believe me, I’ve tried. What’s also great is that there is so much more to do than just go to concerts. You can have a good time dancing and laughing with your friends at

the silent disco, watching shows on the fashion stage or enjoying movies in the AlterKino tent. The atmosphere is great and the festival gets bigger every year. Even though the Open’er Festival may not be as big or as well-known as let’s say Glastonbury or Coachella, which attract some of the biggest names in music and are among the largest outdoor music festivals in the world, it is still one of the best ones. For me, this is definitely a summer event that I’m most excited about

“From Where I Sit” is a column dedicated to the international voices of Hamilton’s campus. If you are an international student and are interested in contributing a column, contact Sarah Rahman (srahman@hamilton.edu).

FEATURES 9 Bachelor and Bachelorette December 4, 2014

David Freeman ’16 Hometown: Weston, MA. Home on Campus: Carnegie 207. Major: Biochemistry. Turn On? Feet. Turn Off? Toes. If you were a dorm which would you be and why? North, specifically 315 ;) Lights on or lights off? Lights on, I’ve got nothing to hide. If you had to describe yourself as the love child of PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID FREEMAN ’16 any two musicians, whom would you pick and why? Nickelback and Creed. Two negatives make a positive. What advertising slogan best describes your life? “Better call Saul.”—Saul What TV genre best describes you? Netflix. What’s the best pick-up line you’ve ever used/had used on you? Are you an orphanage? Cause I wanna give you kids. What’s your type? AB positive and if you laughed at that joke. What are three things you cannot live without? Hamilton squirrels, the Colorado Rapids and aesthetic discernment. Where do you go when you want to be alone? My secret bathroom in the athletic center. Very spacious. If you could join one group on campus, what would it be? Board of trustees, they seem like they get things done. What’s your spirit animal and why? Pygmy marmoset. If you could break one rule at Hamilton and get away with it, which would you choose? Being able to go 22 mph on Campus Road. What would you give a thumbs up? People that go to cross country and track meets. What would you give a thumbs down? Treadmills. Who would you say is your campus crush? Aly Skelly. Who would you say is your faculty crush? Ellen Hull. What would your perfect date be? Dinner at a date table in Commons, I’d use a bonus of course. What is the weirdest thing currently in your room? That’s a close tie between the blind cane and the teletubby costume. If you could remake the points system, what would be the number one offense? Standing in the doorways at Commons. Something about food seems to trump IQ sometimes. If you were a food, which would you be and why? A jawbreaker. They’ll break your jaw.

Bridget Lewis ’16 Hometown: Westfield, MA. Home on Campus: Living the Loft life in Kirkland. Major: Biology. Turn On? Brains and a sense of humor. Turn Off? Arrogance. Plain and simple. If you were a dorm which would you be and why? Kirkland all the way—it’s super chill and those lofts are like palaces… to anyone who is willing to climb those stairs. Lights on or lights PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIDGET LEWIS’16 off? Off! If you had to describe yourself as the love child of any two musicians, whom would you pick and why? Lorde and Frank Sinatra—a little dark and very classic. What advertising slogan best describes your life? “Believe”— Macy’s Holiday Campaign What TV genre best describes you? Sci-fi or fantasy. I’m a nerd. What’s the best pick-up line you’ve ever used/had used on you? “You could be the Sherlock to my Watson.” What’s your type? Someone who is humble, honest, and supportive. Or Colin Morgan. Always Colin Morgan. What are three things you cannot live without? Good food, sleep, and a little imagination. If you were any social space, what would it be? The barn. Where do you go when you want to be alone? I burrito myself in a huge green blanket and hide away for days. If you could join one group on campus, what would it be? The Hamilton Arts Collective. What’s your spirit animal and why? A will o’ the wisp. They’re tricksters and depending on who you talk to, they may or may not be real… If you could break one rule at Hamilton and get away with it, which would you choose? Christmas lights! Christmas lights everywhere! What would you give a thumbs up? Princesses, sarcasm and traveling. What would you give a thumbs down? Organic Chemistry. Who would you say is your campus crush? Adrian Ophals :p Who would you say is your faculty crush? I’d say Professor Smythe, but she’s not here anymore. What would your perfect date be? Maybe a nice dinner, but honestly I just like killing time and doing nothing with someone else. What is the weirdest thing currently in your room? I still have my AA trip’s mascot, a dinosaur hobby horse named Bosh Mango. And he makes noises. RRD forever, guys. If you could remake the points system, what would be the number one offense? Claiming study rooms then leaving… If you were a food, which would you be and why? Honeycomb ice cream. It’s unexpected, but super sweet!

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT December 4, 2014

Masterworks Chorale: A Hamilton mainstay since 1975 by Haley Lynch ’17

Arts & Entertainment Editor

In the second part of the cantata, redemption is found through faith in God. Bach communicates this sense of joy by writing this section mainly in major keys, but it again felt too quiet, as though the singers were allowing their emotions to be muted. In a duet between the soprano and the baritone, LeFabvre sang the role of Jesus answering James as she sang the part of the soul. It was a powerful moment, but although James and LeFebvre sang beautifully independent

The Hamilton College Community Masterworks Chorale was initially founded in 1975 as the Oratorio Society. Today, it is comprised of many members of the Hamilton community, including students, faculty and staff, as well as Clinton locals and their families, amounting to roughly 120 singers. Majorie and Robert W. McEwen Professor of Music G. Roberts Kolb has been conducting the group since he came to Hamilton College in 1981. On Tuesday, December 2, Hamilton’s Masterworks Chorale was joined on the Wellin Hall stage by Symphor!a, one of the finest orchestral groups in the area, as well as four vocal soloists: soprano Nancy James, mezzo-soprano Dawn Pierce, tenor Jon English and baritone Timothy LeFebvre. Together, these musicians presented two great works of sufferance and hope: Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cantata No. 21 Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis and Michael Tippett’s A Child of Our Time. These two pieces, performed in tandem, tell the tale of peace and hope found in God through the centuries. While Bach’s Cantata No. 21 was first performed in 1714, Tippett’s canon premiered in 1944. The thematic similarity between the two works demonstrates the universality and duration of the emotions they expressed. Such dramatic HAMILTON.EDU selections drew a respectable crowd full G. Roberts Kolb conducts of students and locals eager to hear their t h e M a s t e r w o r k s C h o r a l e friends and family members perform. as he has done since 1981. The concert began with Bach’s cantata. This piece can be broken into two sections. The first is grieving and of one another, however, their voices did all in a minor key. This section opened not meld very convincingly for this duet. with hushed oboe and violins, which Finally, following a moving solo set the scene for the chorus to join. tenor aria which called on the chorus Although the combined groups eas- to rejoice, the cantata culminated in ily filled the stage with their physical triumphant praise of Jesus. For this presence, their performance was sur- conclusion, the brass section and timprisingly quiet. While the quietness pani made a long-awaited entrance, could be justified by the somber theme which helped complete the piece and of the cantata, there were certainly in- lent a good deal of previously missing stances that might have been improved volume. This joyful ending elicited through the use of greater volume. a long round of applause from an au-

dience much relieved to find that the devastation described at the beginning of the cantata had found resolution. Following intermission, the Masterworks Chorale and Symphor!a reconvened to perform Tippett’s A Child of Our Time. Bach’s influence was readily evident in this work in the way each soloist’s phrases were punctuated by the full chorus. However, instead of chorales, Tippett included AfricanAmerican spirituals in an attempt to appeal to a wider secular audience. This incorporation of more contemporary gospel lent a whiff of blues to an otherwise strictly traditional oratorio. The modern twist caught in the ears of audience members, and made for an overall more engaging performance than the Bach. For this oratorio, each soloist played a consistent role as the plot unfolded. English, singing tenor, assumed the role of the “oppressed child of our time.” His solos were consistently accompanied by physical emphasis, as he nodded and swayed in line with the beat of the music and the cadence of the lyrics he was singing. The piece was structured in three parts in an allusion to Handel’s oratorio, Messiah, composed in 1741. Each part presented a slightly different theme. With the chorus’ entrance at the beginning of Part II, the Masterworks Chorale finally managed to suffuse the entire auditorium with their voices, and it was well worth the wait. As they filled Wellin Hall, a detectable shift took place in the audience as well. Although the story recounted in the libretto was perhaps less relatable than Bach’s more general text, the performers empathized with the emotions described, and were able to connect persuasively with the audience. One could tell that they enjoyed singing this piece as much as the audience enjoyed listening. As always, Symphor!a delivered a beautiful performance, and functioned as a flawless partner for the Masterworks Chorale as well as for the soloists. The concert was a lovely example of the musical achievements of the Hamilton community.

Show Profile:

The Grotto Wednesday at 1 p.m. with... Michy Woodward ’17 Daniel Reyes ’17

SOUNDCLOUD.COM

The Grotto echoes the sound of independent artists and incorporates a collective love of music. We are the sound of bonfires, dance parties and those lonely nights spent in your dorm room. The voice of the underground, featuring themed shows from acoustic sessions to electronic and everything in between, the Grotto promises new music every week in the indie spectrum.

Tuesday, December 9 7:30 p.m. Wellin Hall ALLMUSIC.COM

Typical Playlist: “Giving It All” - Bondax

WWW.GUTHRIEGREEN.COM

Hamilton College Jazz Ensemble

“Where I Belong” - Bobby Bazini “Reina Japonesa” - Fernando Milagros

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT December 4, 2014

Acoustic Coffeehouse: Basia Bulat

by Emma Reynolds ’17 Arts & Entertainment Contributor

On November 20, CAB hosted its penultimate accoustic coffeehouse of the semester, featuring performances by Jacob Augustine and Basia Bulat. Sporting a flannel and a hardearned beard, Jacob Augustine began his set with a soft saga of sorts. As he sang the tale, he revealed his husky yet surprisingly high voice. His talent was indisputable, but the quality of the set as a whole suffered from seemingly minute details. Though his lyrics were the opposite of cliché, Augustine’s songs often lasted too long and seemed to follow the same chord progression. His only instrument was a guitar, which he played beautifully but often too softly; his loud, sturdy voice muffled his skilled plucking. He was proud of his voice— as he should be—but to such an extent that he ignored formal and instrumental variation. In the audience, a collective impatience emerged in the form of head-turns and shared glances as Augustine began another song with the same chord he had just ended on. He occasionally spoke to us, but his com-

ments greatly relied on humor. asked us how we were doing, cradling the auto-harp as if to After claiming we were she didn’t want cheers; she bring it closer to her heart. “the best college audience” for wanted an answer. She humbly She then introduced one of her which he had ever performed, he showed off her instrumental best-known songs, “Snakes gave us one more five-minute repertoire, playing string in- and Ladders,” mentioning that song, complete with a few too struments, electric instruments one time she played it, the many Mumford-inspired howls and a fusion of the two: an audience started a mosh pit. and moans. His yips were un- auto-harp. For her later songs, She easily laughed and reasexpected and original, sured us that she didn’t but again, permeated expect that. Her stothe lyrics too often. ries crossed into the He kindly bowed more personal when she and turned the stage played “Tall Tall Shadover to CAB as they ow” on the piano. She introduced Basia Bushared that her inspiralat. The Canadian, who tion was the realization travelled with The Head that often, the shadows and the Heart last year, of your life are you. began plucking a ukuAs she walked across lele so small she had the stage to pick up anto hold it against her other instrument, she chest for her fingers to asked us again how we play fast enough. After were doing. The repetidebuting her beautiful, tion created a connecslightly haunting voice, tion, a trust between HEMIDDLEDISTANCERUNNER.FILES.WORDPRESS.COM she stepped back and, her and the students with a tilt of her head, Basia Bulat performed on multiple who had left books smiled for the first i n s t r u m e n t s d u r i n g h e r c o n c e r t . and warm dorms for time. “Hey,” she said Opus chai and music. to us. Her innocent and authen- she nestled the small, trian- During the second half of her tic welcome began a dialogue gular harp against her neck, set, Bulat was often accomwith the audience that would allowing her the unusual abil- panied by a bass-player. She last for the entire performance. ity to pluck next to her chin. sweetly acknowledged him, She delivered the expect- The connection between instru- but her focus was on us: the ed greetings of a performer ment and musician permeated audience she wanted to both in a small setting but with a Bulat’s movements; she closed perform for and get to know. fresh, simple twist. When she her eyes, swaying, singing and Her voice beautifully tumbled

from high notes to deeper ones, complementing her myriad melodies. She respected her songs’ syncopation, allowing the instruments to dictate the range of her voice. An unexpectedly large number of Bulat’s songs were not about love, but instead tackled other relevant (thoug rarely sung-about) issues: uncertainty, self-efficacy, a “heart of my own.” Her songs gracefully tread the line between acoustic and indie-alternative. Bulat ended the night by moving the microphone stand aside. She stepped closer to us and politely asked if she could go back to basics. Confused, we watched her pull out the miniature ukulele with which she had begun, hold it against her chest once again, and begin to sing. No microphone, just voice and ukulele, spreading across our tables and unfurling toward the wooden ceiling. Much like her consistent dialogue with us, the natural combination of voice and strings felt authentic. The accoustic simplicity of the final song rounded off her set, bringing us back to her acoustic roots. She carried this simplicity in her farewell, giving us a humble, happy bow before leaving the stage.

Axiom Brass provides a modern spin on classical chamber music by Alexa Merriam ’17

Arts & Entertainment Contributor out the demanding two-hour set.

On Nov. 15, the brass chamber quintet Axiom Brass took the Wellin Hall stage. The music group integrated modern and old styles to create their own signature sound. The group of young, sharply-dressed men in Axiom Brass includes trumpet players Dorival Puccini, Jr. and Kris Hammond, Matthew Oliphant on horn, Kevin Harrison on tuba and Orin Larson on trombone. Puccini is one of the founding members of Axiom Brass, a group that draws many talented musicians from around the globe to auditions at its home base in Chicago. The trumpeter’s Brazilian origins imbue the quintet with a Latin flair, captured by the group’s passionate performance of two of Liduino Pitombeira’s 20th century “Brazilian Landscapes,” and an additional surprise Ptiombeira piece for their encore. The program took the audience on a sequential journey from medieval and renaissance works to modern tangos, demonstrating the breadth of musicianship and verve that each player possessed and delivered to the audience continuously through-

stunning. One would never guess Both songs had a driving dance Harrison’s arrangement of “Ave that the piece was not originally flare, with the tuba taking on a Verum Corpus” by the English composed for brass. grungy, low brass sound. renaissance composer William The music after the inter- The ensemble expertly Byrd swept the audience away mission transitioned to a more maintained the audience’s inwith haunting harmonies unit- contemporary style, beginning terest, even when players had ing for to take fleeting breathers periods between of time lengthy before pieces or breakswitch ining apart struments again. due to the The five different voices timbres communieach piece cated with called one anothfor. er to cre Pucciate sonorni, along ities that with the bounced help of tuoff ba-player Wellin’s Harrison, walls. exercised CHAMBER-MUSIC.ORG The sevhis backenteenth- A x i o m B r a s s d e m o n s t r a t e d t h e a d a p t a b i l i t y ground as of brass instruments to sound like other instruments. an educacentury Concerto t o r, e n “Saint Marc Tomaso” was origi- with a four-movement piece by gaging with the audience about nally intended for strings with an Victor Ewald, the upbeat Quintet each of the pieces. He imparted oboe, making for an interesting No. 3, Op. 7 which brought the his own impressions of some of translation to brass. However, spirited energy of strings into the the songs he chose to arrange, as Puccini’s arrangement and the brass realm. The group closed well as his own definition of a players’ performances were with “Two Tangos” by Piazolla. fugue.

One of the first noticeable aspects of the group’s performance was that they had iPads instead of sheets of music. Puccini talked about how the group began using iPads two years ago, and by turning pages using a Bluetooth pedal and keeping the next measure on screen, they can always know what is ahead. Not only was Axiom Brass soothing to listen to musically, but their members were very funny and a joy to meet after the performance. In the middle of their set, Puccini announced, “I hope it’s okay if we take a moment to introduce ourselves,” and then the group proceeded to go around and shake hands with one another, and explained that they would love to talk more about themselves with the audience after the concert. Proceeds from Axiom Brass’s CDs go toward “Music for All,” a program that provides educational concerts and recitals to maximize children’s learning and enjoyment of music in the Chicago area. Axiom Brass was a privilege to have at Wellin Hall Their ability to honor musical traditions from renaissance madrigals to modern tangos proved their incredible versatility.